Envelop moistening and sealing machine.



No. 782,058. PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905. B. M. ROGERS.

BNVELOP MOISTBNING AND SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

luvantoz No. 782,058. PATENTEDuFEB. 7, 1905; B. M. ROGERS.

ENVELOP MOISTENING AND SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APB..13,1904.

3 SHBET8-BHEBT 2.

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PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905 B. M. ROGERS. ENVBLOP MOISTBNING AND SEALING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 1a, 1ao4.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

QvRwzooe/a Patented February 7, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT UEEICE.

BYRON M. ROGERS, OF WATERTOWN, NEW YORK.

ENVELOP lVlOlSTENlNG AND SEALING MACHINE. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,058, dated February 7, 1905.

Application filed April 13, 1904. Serial No. 202.983.

T!) (1.71 who/it it may concern:

Be it known that l, BYRON H. ROGERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at atertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented new and useful improvements in Envelop Moistening and Sealing Machines, of which the following is a specitication.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for automatically moistening and sealing envelops; and its object is to provide a machine of simple and compact construction having means whereby envelops can be automatically fed to a moistening device.

A further object is to provide means forapplying moisture to the gummed surface of the envelop-flap and subsequently pressing said flap upon the body of the envelop.

Another object is to provide laterally-adjustable rollers for moving the envelops successively into position upon the moistcning and sealing devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for supplying water continuously to the moistening device.

\Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists of a bed having a springpressed plunger adapted to force on velops successively into position against guide-arms which are arranged at one end of the bed. Rollers are mounted adjacent the bed and are adapted to engage the envelops successively and move them along the guides, with the flaps thereof extending over one of the guides. By continuously rotating the rollers these flaps are caused to move over the moistened strip of absorbent material, where the gummed surfaces thereof are moistened. The envelops are then brought into position between sealingrollers and are subsequently discharged into a receptacle provided therefor.

The invention also consists of the further novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of my invention, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 1 1, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the guide-plate and moistening-pad detached. Fig. 7 is a side elevation thereof. Figs. 8 and 9 are plan views of the top and bottom adjusting mechanisms, respectively, of the envelop-extracting roller; and Fig. 10 is a plan view of a portion of the top plate of the frame of the machine and showing the slots for the adjustable roller.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a base having an inclined end board 2 at one end and a receptacle 3 at the other end, said receptacle extending from one side of the base and preferably at right angles thereto. 'lhis receptacle is provided with one adjustable side wall 1, which is connected to the base by means of brackets 5, adapted to be secured in adjusted positions by pins 6,

which may be placed in engagement with any one of a series of apertures T. Parallel beads 8 are arranged upon the bottom of receptacle 3 and serve to support a plunger 9, having a rod 10 extendingtherefrom and through the outer end of the receptacle, said rod being in closed by a spring 11, which holds the plunger 9 normally projected toward the inner end of the receptacle 3. Said inner end of the receptacle is closed by means of an end wall 12, which is cut away at one end to form an outlet 13, and projecting into this outletare guidearms 1st and 15, extending from a plate 16. This plate is secured in an upright position upon the base 1 and in alinement with the end wall 12, and the guide-arm 11 is bent inwardly into the outlet 13, while the arm 15 is straight. A wicl: 17 or other absorbent material is secured to one face of the plate 16 and is normally contacted by the upper portion of a spring lb, which is secured to the base and is for the purpose hereinafter more fully described. A top plate 19 is supported above the base and plate 16 by standards 20, and secured to this top plate is a reservoir 21, having an outlet-tube which extends downward to the lower portion of the spring-strip 18 at a point where said strip bears against the lower portion of wick 17. By providing this arrangement of parts water is continuously supplied to the wick. p

The base 1 and the top plate 19 are provided with slots 23, in which are slidably mounted the necks of rollers 24 and 25. These rollers are preferably arranged on aline parallel with the sides of base 1 and at points between the receptacle 3 and the end plate 2. The roller 25 is normally spaced from the plate 16 a short distance, and both of the rollers are held in their normal positions by means of springs 26, which are connected to cross-strips 27, in which the roller-necks are journaled, and to the base 1 and top plate 19, respectively. A link 28 is pivoted to the base 1 and hasashaft 29, journaled in its other end, and to the lower portion of this shaft is secured a roller 30, provided with a series of pointed projections 31. This roller is normally in position adjacent the outlet 13. The upper end of the shaft 29 is journaled in one end of a lever 31, which is fulcrumed upon the lower face of the top plate and has an apertured arm 32, adapted to receive a locking-pin 33, whereby the lever can be secured in any position to which it may be adjusted. A shaft 34 is journaled in the base and top plate and directly opposite the roller 25 and at the other side of the plate 16. This shaft has a roller 35 at its lower end. Another roller, 36, is journaled in the base and top plate and is normally contacted by the roller 24. The pass formed between these two rollers 24 and 36 is in alinement with the plate 16. A crank 37 is secured to shaft 34,

and said shaft is provided with pulleys 38, on'

which are arranged belts 39 and 40. Belt 39 extends around a pulley 41, arranged at one end of roller 36, while belt 40 extends around a pulley 42, secured to shaft 29. A light spring-strip 43 is secured to the base 1 and extends partly in rear of roller 24 and is adapted to clamp sealed envelops upon the end plate 2.

Envelops to be moistened and sealed are placed within the receptacle 3 and in front of i the plunger 9 with the flaps thereof upon the side facing the end wall 12. These envelops are therefore pressed firmly against said end wall by the spring 11, which bears against the plunger 9. As before described, water is supplied to the wick 17 from tank 21 through the tube 22, and therefore said wick is kept moist at all times. The crank 37 is rotated and rotary motion is transmitted therefrom to the rollers 30 and 36, as well as roller 35. The projections on roller 30 will contact with that portion of the first envelop which extends over the outlet 13 and will draw the envelop edgewise through the outlet. As

the arm 14 is curved into the outlet it will promptly assume a position between the body of the envelop and the flap thereof, as shown in Fig. 1, and the lower arm 15 of plate 16 As the movement of the envelop continues the flap 7 thereof is drawn under the spring-strip 18, which causes it to bear firmly upon the wick 17. Moisture is therefore supplied to the gummed face of the flap. Immediately prior to the release of the envelop from the roller 30 the same is gripped by rollers 36 and 24 and is drawn therebetween. The flap is thus pressed against the body of theenvelop and becomes firmly affixed thereto. The rollers 36 and 24 discharge the envelop against the inclined end plate 2, where it is held by the spring retaining-strip 43. This operation is repeated as long as the crank 37 is rotated and the supply of envelops is maintained. It will be seen that the envelops can be moistened and sealed at any desired speed. The springs 26 allow for a certain amount of lateral movement of the rollers 25 and 24, so as to accommodate them to envelops of different thicknesses. The side wall 4 of receptacle 3 can be adjusted laterally, so as to permit envelops of different lengths to be placed within said receptacle.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right tomake such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what the combination with a receptacle having an outlet at one end, and means within the receptacle for feeding envelops to the outlet; of-a plate adjacent the receptacle, a curved arm extending therefrom and into the outlet, an absorbent upon the plate, and means for directing envelops successively through the outlet and upon the plate.

2. The combination with a receptaclehaving an outlet at one end thereof, and means for automatically feeding envelops to the outlet; of a plate, arms extending therefrom, one of said arms being curved into the outlet, an absorbent upon one face of the plate, means for supplying moisture thereto, and mechanism for successively extracting envelops through the outlet and projecting them upon the plate and absorbent.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a base having a receptacle thereon provided with an outlet, and means for feeding envelops to the outlet; of a plate upon the base, a curved guide-arm extending therefrom and into the outlet, an absorbent upon the plate, means for supplying moisture thereto, and a revoluble roller adjacent the outlet and adapted to successively IIO engage the envelops and extract them from the outlet.

l. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a base having a receptacle thereon provided with an outlet, and means for feeding en'velops to the outlet; of a plate upon the base, a curved guide-arm extending therefrom and into the outlet, an absorbent upon the plate, means for supplying moisture thereto, a roller adjacent the outlet and adapted to successively engage the envelops and withdraw them from the outlet, and means for guiding the envelops upon the plate and absorbent.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a base having an adjustable receptacle at one end thereof provided with an outlet, and a spring-pressed plunger within the receptacle; of a roller adjacent the outlet, projections thereon for successivelyengaging envelops and withdrawing them through the outlet, oppositely-disposed alining rollers upon the base having passes therebctween alining with the outlet, a plate alining with the passes between the rollers, a curved guide-arm extending therefrom and into the outlet, an absorbent upon the plate, and means for supplying moisture thereto.

6. in a machine of the character described, the combination with a base having an adjustable receptacle thereon provided with an outlet, and a spring-pressed plunger within the receptacle; of a plate upon the base, a curved guide-arm extending therefrom and into the outlet, oppositely disposed rollers having passes therebetween normally alining with the plate, means for permitting the automatic enlargement of the passes between the rollers, an adjustable roller adjacent the outlet, extensions thereon for engaging the envelops, an absorbent material upon the plate, means for supplying moisture thereto, and mechanism for rotating the rollers.

7. [n a machine of the character described, the combination with a base having an adjustable receptacle thereon provided with an outlet, and a spring-pressed plunger within the receptacle; of a plate upon the base, a curved guide-arm extending therefrom and into the outlet, oppositely disposed rollers having passes the rebetween normally alining with the plate, means for permitting the automatic enlargement of the passes between the rollers, an adjustable roller adjacent the outlet, extensions thereon for engaging the envelops, an absorbent material upon the plate, a springstrip normally contacting with the absorbent, an inclined end plate, a retaining-strip adjacent thereto, and mechanism for rotating the rollers.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BYRON M. R()( QERS.

\Vitnesses:

JNo. Comsor, LE RoY L. LUTHER. 

